虚 xū Xu
“虚”指世界或者心灵的一种状态。大体有两种不同的含义:其一,指世界的本原,万物皆由虚无中来。但古人对“虚”的这一含义又有不同理解:或认为“虚”就是空虚无有;或认为“虚”指“气”的存在状态,因为“气”的存在隐微无形,故以“虚”称之,但并非完全空无。其二,指虚静的或没有成见的内心状态。
Xu refers to a state of thecosmos or a state of mind. Basically, it has two different meanings. The firstrefers to the origin of the universe, indicating that everything originatesfrom xu. Different ancient thinkers have different interpretations of thisnotion: Some take xu as being devoid of anything; others believe it is thestate of existence of qi (气). Because qi is invisible and formless, it issaid to be empty, but not a vacuum totally devoid of anything. The secondmeaning of xu refers to a state of mind that is peaceful, not preoccupied orsimply free of any preconceptions.
例句 Examples:
◎太虚无形,气之本体。(张载《正蒙•太和》)
(“虚”是无形的,是“气”的本来状态。)
Xu is formless; it is theoriginal state of qi. (Zhang Zai: Enlightenment Through Confucian Teachings)
◎唯道集虚,虚者心斋也。(《庄子•人间世》)
(只有道汇集并呈现于虚静的心灵,“虚”就是心斋。)
Dao gathers and presents itselfin an unoccupied and peaceful mind; being unoccupied means the pure state ofthe mind. (Zhuangzi)